One of the most sought after positions in the transfer portal is at quarterback. The guy who touches the ball every play typically gets the most attention, and there are a number of players who hit the portal to find a new destination. These transfer portal rankings look at the quarterbacks that will have the biggest impact on their new schools in 2024.
Top Transfer Portal QBs for 2024
10) Maalik Murphy, Duke
Maalik Murphy came to Texas with plenty of hype, and that continued well into this year. His time as a starter left mixed reviews, but the sentiment surrounding his game remained. When Quinn Ewers decided to return to school, Murphy entered the transfer portal to find a place where he could start.
He brings a good frame to the Duke offense, and he’ll be a good fit for what they want to do. Improvement as a passer will be required, but he has plenty of time to develop for the Blue Devils.
9) DJ Uiagalelei, Florida State
Florida State took a massive hit with graduation and the NFL Draft, but Mike Norvell and his staff are doing their best to limit the damage. Next year is expected to be a step-back year for the Seminoles, but they’re trying to ensure it’s not a leap.
DJ Uiagalelei may not be the best quarterback in college football, but he limits how low the floor can get. He’s a big-body quarterback who can be solid as both a runner and a passer, and I trust Mike Norvell and Alex Atkins to make the system work for him.
8) Grayson McCall, NC State
There was speculation that Grayson McCall would enter the transfer portal after this year. A new staff combined with injuries shook things up for the Chanticleers star, and he decided a new start was needed.
Under Robert Anae, McCall could be one of the most electric quarterbacks in college football. He has the tools to make big-time throws, and he’s a solid runner, too. After what we saw Anae do with Brennan Armstrong at both Virginia and NC State, fans should be excited about McCall’s potential.
7) Riley Leonard, Notre Dame
If Riley Leonard is at his peak, Notre Dame’s in business. An injury-filled year limited him in 2023, and you could argue that it was a big reason why he wasn’t as good as he was in 2022. This staff wasn’t worried about that, and snatched him out of the transfer portal quickly after he entered.
Notre Dame’s running back room is stacked for next year, and there’s a lot of young talent coming back out wide too. If Leonard can rediscover the magic that made him so exciting 2 years ago, then the Irish are contenders for the College Football Playoff.
6) Will Howard, Ohio State
There’s plenty of debate surrounding Will Howard’s arrival from the transfer portal, and some think he’s the same as Kyle McCord. Regardless of your side in that debate, Howard will impact this offense one way or another.
Ohio State’s offense should feature a number of new skill position players, and Howard needs to find chemistry with them early. If Ryan Day is truly trying to get back to running the ball more with his quarterback, then Howard is a great fit. Throw in Quinshon Judkins, and the Buckeyes backfield looks dangerous.
Howard had his best year of college last year with Kansas State, but he hasn’t faced this type of pressure before. While he’s not a lock to win the job, he has the experience and the tools to beat out Devin Brown for the starting spot.
5) Aidan Chiles, Michigan State
When Jonathan Smith took the Michigan State job, everyone knew that Aidan Chiles would follow him there. After sitting behind D.J. Uiagalelei this past year, Chiles decided he wanted to start under the staff that brought him to Corvallis and East Lansing.
There’s plenty of hype surrounding his game. He threw for 309 yards and four touchdowns while running for 79 yards and three more touchdowns at Oregon State, and Spartans fans hope that’s just the beginning of his success. With Michigan State going through a rebuild, Chiles should have plenty of impact immediately.
4) Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
Losing Bo Nix would always leave a hole in the offense, but Dan Lanning knew exactly what he needed to do to replace him. After looking at the talent on the roster, he looked at the transfer portal to find a veteran player who could help Oregon compete for a national championship.
Dillon Gabriel comes from Oklahoma and UCF before that, and gives the Ducks an experienced southpaw who could sling it all around the field. He also throws one of the prettiest deep balls you’ll ever see.
With over 14,000 yards and 125 touchdowns passing in his career, his final year in college should yield exciting results. Lanning and his staff know where their program sits, and they understand the time is now to try and compete for a title.
3) Dequan Finn, Baylor
A big year for the Toledo Rockets helped vault their star quarterback into a Power 5 job, and there’s plenty of excitement surrounding his arrival in Waco. Dequan Finn joins a Bears team looking for a boost on offense, and the dual threat should give them exactly that.
Finn has 7,079 yards and 63 touchdowns passing for his career while also running for 1,837 yards and 25 more scores. Head coach Dave Aranda shook things up with the coaching staff this offseason, bringing in former Cal offensive coordinator Jake Spavital to call plays.
Spavital runs an electric scheme that should benefit Finn’s skillset, and the Bears should be able to take that step forward they desperately need on offense.
2) K.J. Jefferson, UCF
Gus Malzahn’s system found their newest weapon, and KJ Jefferson is a massive addition for multiple reasons. Jefferson comes in at 6’3″ and 247 pounds, so he’ll be tough to miss on the field. He’s also shown he can bring a good balance of run and pass to the Knights offense.
MORE: College Football Transfer Portal Tracker
Despite his size, he moves lightly on his feet. He struggled to find consistency under Dan Enos and ultimately entered the transfer portal after the 2023 season. Under Malzahn, we should expect to see him run the ball more than he did last year, and it will just come down to how well he moves the ball through the air.
1) Malachi Nelson, Boise State
Largely unproven, but the excitement Malachi Nelson brings to the Smurf Turf can’t be denied. There’s a reason why USC wanted him out of high school, and now he’s going to a place where he can play right away (something more kids should do).
Joining him in the backfield is one of the best running backs in college football. Ashton Jeanty is a monster for the Broncos, and he’ll only do more damage when Nelson starts opening up the field with his arm.
Boise State found a way to win a conference title without a head coach and a quarterback battle last year, so they’ll be even better heading into next season.
Miss any action from the top college QB Rankings during the 2023 football season? Want to track all the movement with the college football’s transfer portal? College Football Network has you covered with that and more!